Photos and covereage

After two days of panels and workshops by leaders in the information and communications technology for development (ICT4D) field, Valera brought home how United Methodists could embrace such innovation to live out their calling to care for those in need.

“John Wesley created a movement, a disruptive innovation that reached out to those at the bottom,” Valera said. “This is not about a plan of getting rich. The Game Changers’ plan is for giving people access, information, education, technology — for ways people can live with love and hope.”

Communication overcomes barriers

“Modern communication can return us to the concept of one human family by breaching differences and creating knowledge about each other,” Kharas said.

Kharas said society is only beginning to understand the implications of the immediacy of modern communications. For example, if there’s an uprising or a disaster, those on the ground can take a picture on their phones, load it to the Internet and let the world know as it happens.

“We have not yet grasped all the ways we can use technology to better the human condition,” he added.

Kharas also premiered “In Praise of Prevention,” the second video Kharas has partnered with United Methodist Communications on to help educate on preventing the spread of Ebola.

In her closing benediction, the Rev. Neelley Hicks, director of ICT4D church initiatives for United Methodist Communications, told attendees, “Let us not ever weary of doing good.”

*Butler is a multimedia producer/editor for United Methodist Communications. You may contact him at (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.